Infinite Stratos, Volume 7, page 2
“As for this...” I looked down at the two pieces of my door lying on the ground. “I’ll put in a maintenance request for a new door...”
◇
In a dark room, Madoka changed the bandages on her right hand. Repeated use of regenerative nanomachines had already sealed the wound. Empty syringes were scattered around the room.
“I’m coming in, M.” Squall, the leader of Phantom Task, entered without a knock. Her voluminous blonde hair swayed as she walked. “So, Orimura Madoka. Do you have an explanation for your actions yesterday?”
Squall’s smile remained fixed in place. Madoka glanced up before turning back to her bandages without a response.
“You may have enjoyed the theatrics of it all, but unauthorized contact like that could throw off the whole mission. Don’t go off on your own like that again, understood?”
“Understood...”
“Your mission is the capture of IS. If you’re going to use your IS for something else...”
Blam! An explosion rang out, and the first aid kit was blown off the side table. An instant later, Madoka was grabbed by the neck and thrown into the wall.
“Not too shabby.”
Squall floated in midair, her IS deployed, but behind Madoka four of Silent Zephyrus’s bits were aimed and ready to fire.
“.........”
Released, Madoka slumped back down to the bed. Squall dematerialized her own IS, landing next to her. The bed’s springs creaked under the weight of two people.
“Remember, M. You may be Orimura Madoka, but that doesn’t matter to me. I need you to be M. M from Phantom Task.”
“I will be, until I settle things...”
“Settle things... You mean, with Orimura Ichika?”
“Hmph. That little worm? I could kill him anytime I want.”
“So with Orimura Chifuyu, huh...” As Squall spoke, Madoka’s expressionless mouth twisted into a smile. A vicious smile. “Orimura Chifuyu, then. She doesn’t even have an IS right now. Doesn’t seem like she’s that much of a threat.”
The second Squall’s words left her mouth, she caught Madoka’s punch and kicked her back down. Looking at Madoka’s face, her smile had been replaced with blistering rage.
“Don’t you dare. You’re not worthy to even breathe the same air as her.”
“Fine, fine. Now put that knife away before you put a hole in the wall.”
“Hmph.” Embarrassed at being provoked so easily, Madoka resheathed her knife.
“Now, I’m going to go get my beauty rest. There’s still a good amount of time before the next mission. Try not to do anything rash. Got it, M?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. I like girls who know how to listen. Anyway, until then.” Squall strode out, as indifferent to Madoka’s opinion on the matter as she had been when she entered.
With the door closed, silence and darkness again settled over the room. Madoka took out her knife again, and ran it along her face. Dark red blood welled up from the cut. Slicing into a face which looked so much like Chifuyu’s brought her joy beyond words. Entranced, she gazed at her own reflection in the blade.
◇
“Hey, Orimura, Shinonono.” Mayuzumi Kaoruko had suddenly appeared in Class 1-A during the break after second period.
“What’s up?”
“Well, I wanted to ask a favor of you two.”
“A favor? From me and Ichika?”
“Yeah. My sister works for a publisher, and they wanted to run an exclusive interview with you as students with your own IS. Here’s the magazine it would be in.” Kaoru pulled out a fashion magazine for teens.
“Um... What does this have to do with IS?”
“Hm? Wait, haven’t you two done this kind of thing before?”
“Uhh...” Houki and I both nodded hesitantly, not quite sure of what she was after.
“Well, normally if you have your own IS that means you’re a pilot or at least a national cadet, which kind of makes you a celebrity. Almost like an idol, at least in terms of doing modeling on the side. I think some countries even involve the national theater.”
“Really, Houki?”
“Why are you asking me?! I have no clue!”
We were both pretty out of the pop culture loop for our age. Now that I think of it, didn’t Cecilia talk about modeling in England? I remembered her showing me photos once. She definitely looked good in that gown, at least. I’m a guy, so probably a tux? I wasn’t really sure about this.
While I was mulling it over, Rin popped up. “Wow, Ichika, you’ve never modeled? I guess I’ll have to show you some of my photos.”
“Nah, I’m good.”
“What’s your problem?!” She smacked me on the head. “If I don’t, you’re probably gonna do something that makes you look like a weirdo.”
“What?! Show me! Show me right now!”
Rin pulled out her phone and twisted my face toward it. Ow, my neck!
“Oh?”
“Hmm...”
Houki took the opportunity to take a peek too, and she had the same reaction I did. The photo, by the way, was Rin in casual wear.
“Hmm... This looks pretty good.”
“Mhm. Don’t I. This was last summer—”
Ding-dong. The bell rang to mark the start of third period.
“You’re with the kendo club today, right, Orimura? I’ll see you there! Later!” Kaoru was gone as swiftly as she had arrived. I’d expected Rin to make her exit too, but she was still caught up in showing off her pictures.
“And look here, how I—”
Klonk! She wasn’t expecting to play rock, paper, scissors, and when you throw rock it isn’t normally directly onto the other person’s head, but...
“Oww!” She turned around with an angry squint, only to see Chifuyu.
“Get back to Class B.”
“Yes, ma’am...”
As usual, she slumped out of the room. This was why she hardly ever came to visit Class A, even though it would have been perfectly fine in the afternoon.
“Today we’ll be covering the theoretical foundations of effective evasion and keeping distance in melee combat.”
And so class had begun.
◇
“Here’s your towel.”
“Wow, it’s really Orimura!”
“Ooh! Give me one, too!”
“Can I have a massage?”
“Sorry, that isn’t on the menu.”
“Aww. Laaaaame!”
After school in the school dojo, I was handing towels out to the kendo club members as they finished practice. Like Kaoru had mentioned earlier, today I was with them.
“Here’s one for you, Houki.”
“Ah, yeah. Thanks.” Houki pulled off her mask and headband and wiped her face with the towel.
“.........”
“What are you staring at?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking that the hakama look is really you.”
“H-Hmph...” Houki snapped her head to the side. I wondered if she was embarrassed.
“Hey, Orimura Ichika? Been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Oh, yeah. Since the school festival, right?”
“Ahaha, yeah? Everyone’s enjoying this, aren’t they? Don’t they all seem like they just won at bingo or something?”
Oh, right. This was the girl who phrased everything as a question for some reason. While I was wondering why, she wove her way between her club members and was gone. Huh. Beats me.
“...Hey, Houki.”
“Yeah? What?”
“What do you think about that thing Kaoru mentioned during break?”
“I’m out. Being some display piece isn’t my thing.”
“I figured.” That was how I expected her to answer. Just as I was nodding in agreement, Kaoru appeared.
“Hey! Sorry to keep you waiting! Anyway, about that interview.”
“Houki just said she—”
Kaoru interrupted me before I could finish, “Ta-dah! I’ve got invitations to a dinner at a five-star hotel for you! For both of you, of course.”
She waved a pamphlet at the two of us. It definitely looked pretty fancy. But if Houki wasn’t feeling it...
“We’ll do it.”
Ehh?
“Really? I kind of got the feeling that it wasn’t your thing.”
“It’ll be a learning experience.”
Ehh? Ehhhh?
“Oh, I see. It’s on, then! You’re okay with it too, right, Orimura? See you there at two on Sunday, then!”
“Um...”
“Anyway!” Kaoru left as quickly as she’d arrived. As the door to the dojo closed behind her, I took a good look at Houki.
“Houki.”
“What?”
“What happened to ‘your thing’?”
“I... I’m flexible! Problem?” She ground into my cheek with her bamboo sword.
“Sigh... I guess. As long as you’re okay with it.”
“I see. Anyway... This dinner, we’re going together, right?” she asked almost nervously.
“Sure. I mean, I’d be mad if I didn’t get to come along.”
“Oh, I see! Right. Mm-hm, right!” Houki beamed as she gripped the pamphlet. I hope she doesn’t crush that. It’d be a shame if we couldn’t make out the address.
“Oh wow, Shinonono, are you going on a date with Orimura?”
“That sounds so awesome! I wish it was me!”
“Wow, that hotel’s world-famous.”
Almost in unison, the kendo club members who had been watching from afar closed in.
“It... It’s not a da-da-da-date! It’s nothing like that at all!”
“Oh really.”
Houki’s flustering was met with a circle of knowing grins.
Huh. I guess Houki’s getting along well with the other club members. I let out a sigh of relief. Houki had always had trouble playing nicely with others, so I’d been worried. Anyway. Sunday. Between that and Tatenashi’s request, it was going to be a busy weekend.
◇
All right. Fourth period had just ended, and the classroom was buzzing with the excitement of lunch break.
“Let’s go to the cafeteria, Ichika.”
I regretfully waved out of Charl’s usual friendly invitation. “Sorry, Charl. I’ve got something to take care of today.”
“Really? Hmm, what should I do, then...”
“Hey, Doonie! Let’s get lunch!” It was Miss Casual and friends, of all people, who extended the invitation. Her hand was waving from inside her usual way-too-long sleeve.
“Do-Doonie?”
“C’mon, it’ll be fun. Ahahaha.” Ever so slowly, she tried to grab Charl’s hand. As I watched Charl deliberately not evade it, I thought of just what a nice person she was.
“Let’s gooooo!” Tanimoto and a few others were waiting by the classroom door, and as Miss Casual met up with them they quickly pulled Charl into the group.
All right. Time to head over to Class D. If what Tatenashi had told me was right, Kanzashi would just be eating a bun at her desk. I got a bun for lunch too, so if I’m lucky that’s how I’ll be able to strike up a conversation. The all-years tag-team tournament had been explained during homeroom that morning. If I didn’t get out of the classroom quickly, someone else might ask me first. I had to hurry.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Ichika!”
Womp-womp. As soon as I got into the hallway, I ran into Rin.
“Hey, team up with me!”
“Sorry, Rin. I’m already taken.”
“Whaaaat? Already taken...? It’s Charlotte, isn’t it?!”
Eh? Why’s she blaming Charl?
“Ugh. Just because you teamed up before, she gets first dibs?”
“Huh? What?”
“Oh, nothing! Anyway! Who is it! I’ll get her to back out, just tell me!”
Uh, wow. That’s kinda scary.
“Um, well...”
“Well?”
“...Sorry!”
The 36th of the Thirty-Six Stratagems: ‘If all else fails, retreat.’ I took off running.
“Ah! Hey, wait! Wait, Ichika!”
I darted down the stairs and lost Rin, before returning to the second floor.
“Phew. Finally made it to Class D.”
“Oh, wow! It’s Orimura!”
“It is! But why?!”
“What do you want at Class D?”
Wow, there were lots of people here. Unfortunately.
“Um, is Sarashiki here?”
“Whaaa?” The girls erupted in unison confusion.
“Sarashiki?”
“You mean, her?”
The crowd parted like the Red Sea. Directly ahead of me, furthest in the back by the windows, was a girl. A bun sat untouched on her desk as she stared fixedly at a projection display, her hands flying over a keyboard.
Huh? Tatenashi said she was pretty gloomy, but I wasn’t expecting her to be so intense. The other girls whispered to each other as I tried to square up my assumptions with reality.
“Wait, did you want to team up with her for the tag team tournament they talked about in homeroom?”
“Hm? Yeah, that’s it.” Murmurs spread out in a ripple around me as the girls processed my answer.
“Really? She doesn’t even have her own IS.”
“She’s been skipping every event.”
“Are you sure you’re not thinking of her sister?”
I didn’t really care to hear any more, so I clapped my hands to drown it out, “Well, excuse me! Anyway, I came here to talk to her.”
Passing by the crowd, I made my way to Kanzashi’s desk.
“Can I borrow a chair?” I took a chair from a nearby girl and plopped down in front of Kanzashi.
“.........”
Her keyboard clattered as she typed. It was an old school mechanical model, rather than the new projection ones.
“Um...”
I took another look at her. Her hair hung down to her shoulders, but curled inward rather than outward like her sister’s. Her eyes were drawn narrow, and a little bit empty inside. On her face was a pair of rectangular-framed glasses that gave off an aloof air.
“Hey. I’m Orimura Ichika.”
Her fingers stopped for a moment. After a short while longer she quietly replied, “I know.”
That’s good. She responded. Just as I was feeling relieved, she stood up. She began to raise her right arm, before sitting back down and resuming typing.
“Um...”
“I... Have every right to give you a good punch... Right now... But it’s not worth the effort... So I won’t.”
Ugh, she must have been angry about her IS. I mean, sure, all the effort that got dumped into Byakushiki was why it wasn’t finished, but it’s not like I could do anything about that.
“...What did you want?”
“Ooh! Right, that. Want to team up with me for the tag team tournament?”
“No...”
Well, that was quick. But I couldn’t give up yet!
“Aww, c’mon.”
“I don’t want to... Plus, you have... Plenty of options...”
“Oh, uh...” I cast about for a good explanation. Something better than ‘Tatenashi told me to.’ “Actually, everyone’s already found a partner—”
“There you are, Ichika!”
Guan Yu?! Nope... Just Rin.
“What are you doing in Class D! If you’re gonna visit anywhere, it should be Class B!”
“Ugh...” The usual tug on my sleeve felt like a vise around my chest. Could you please not do that? What am I gonna do if you tear my uniform?
“Come with me, right now!”
“I, uh. See you later, Sarashiki.”
“.........”
Kanzashi took a big bite of her bun in lieu of replying. And that’s how I got dragged off to Class B...
“Here.”
“There? Oh... Is this pepper steak?”
“Yeah. See? I can too make things other than sweet and sour pork.”
“Ah, But I already bought a noodle bun, so...”
Before I could finish my sentence, she snatched it out of my hand. No, my bun!
“You’re eating my pepper steak. Understood?!”
“I mean, you’re stuck feeding me then. Shouldn’t you be the one who’s iffy on it?”
“An indirect kiss...”
“Eh?”
“N-Nothing! Now come on! Eat up!”
“Okay, okay! Jeez, what’s gotten into you...” I gave one last goodbye to my noodle bun before switching into pepper steak gear. “Ooh? Wow, this is really good!”
“Hmph! Of course it is!”
The sauce was rich and flavorful, without being overpowering, and I began shoveling it into my mouth.
“Well, okay. Your noodle bun is pretty good, too.”
“Huh? You mean the one I just bought?”
“I-I mean the school store has some really good stuff! You got a problem with that?”
Not really, but...
“Anyway, Ichika. So you’re teaming up with me for the tag team tournament?”
“Sorry. I’m already taken.”
“W-W-W-Why?! Who?! Who is it?! I’ll get you out of it, just tell me!”
“Didn’t you already say that?”
“Tell me!”
“No!”
“Grrr...”
If I keep sitting here, she’s gonna keep going. I need to finish up and get back to Class A.
“Ichika!”
“No.”
“I didn’t even say it yet!”
“You probably want to fight her for the spot or something. No way.”
“Ugh! How did you know?!”
“Later, Rin. Thanks for lunch. It was good.”
“Eh?! Er, um...”
I slipped away while she was surprised by the compliment.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Ichika. You’re teaming up with me, of course, right?” Laura stood, her hands on her hips.
“Well, uhh...”
“Here’s the form. Just sign on the line.”
“Sorry, Laura... I already have plans...”
“What...?”
I already knew she was going to try to get me to cough up who it was, so I preemptively got apologetic and replied, “Really, I’m sorry! But I’ve already teamed up with someone!”
